Developing a job-exposure matrix for sedentary behavior: A study based on the Inpatient Clinico-Occupational Database of Rosai Hospital Group.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a job-exposure matrix for sedentary behavior and assess its relationship with non-communicable diseases. METHODS: We constructed a job-exposure matrix using occupational and industry classifications combined with data on daily average sitting durations from 41,718 individuals. This matrix was then applied to a cohort of 706,939 participants in a case-control study to explore the link between sedentary behavior and non-communicable disease risks. RESULTS: The matrix effectively identified sedentary behavior across different occupational groups. Using the matrix to assess sedentary behavior, associations were found between increased sedentary activity and heightened risks of diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, and endometrial cancer, while a reduced risk was observed for stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The job-exposure matrix provides valuable insights into the health impacts of sedentary behavior in the workplace, underscoring significant disease risks associated with prolonged inactivity.

Research topics in occupational medicine, 1990-2022: A text-mining-applied bibliometric study.

OBJECTIVE: Occupational health has been influenced by societal and industrial changes. This study aimed to clarify topic trends in occupational health research in 1990-2022. METHODS: We conducted a text-mining-adjusted bibliometric study using research titles in occupational health. Data on research titles and the years of publication were collected from 26 peer-reviewed journals on PubMed. Using morphological and correspondence analyses in text mining, we structured research topics into multiple categories and visualized the relationship between all categories and publication years. Statistical analyses were conducted using the text mining software - KH Coder 3.0. RESULTS: We obtained 48 645 articles containing 714 890 words in their titles. The research topics were classified into 4 categories and 17 subcategories, of which those of occupations; countries; non-intervention; psychosocial factors; lifestyle factors; safety; symptoms; therapy and care; and productivity have recently shown an increasing trend. In contrast, the subcategories of risk, chemical factors, disease, and organ damage showed decreasing trends. Chemical factors, which were the main topics in the 1990s, included risk, organ damage, and disease. Productivity, the main topic in the 2020s, co-occurred with lifestyle factors, symptoms, and intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Focal areas in occupational-health research shift according to societal trends. Occupational-health research has primarily analyzed issues in developed countries with capitalist values and may not have sufficiently covered issues in developing countries. It is imperative for policymakers and public funding bodies to determine priorities for investigation in the field.

Comparative Analysis of 24-2C, 24-2, and 10-2 Visual Field Tests for Detecting Mild-Stage Glaucoma With Central Visual field Defects.

PURPOSE: This study sought to identify the most effective testing program for detecting visual-field defects in mild-stage glaucoma with central visual-field defects. DESIGN: A multicenter, retrospective diagnostic testing evaluation. PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 93 eyes (83 patients) with mild-stage glaucoma (median mean deviation [interquartile range]: -1.79 [2.16] dB) with central visual-field defects and 69 eyes (63 patients; median mean deviation, -1.38 [2.31] dB) with mild-stage glaucoma without central visual-field defects, from Jikei University School of Medicine and Tajimi Iwase Eye Clinic. METHODS: Patients underwent 10-2 Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA) Standard, 24-2 SITA Standard, and 24-2C SITA Faster tests. Central visual-field defects were defined using 10-2 SITA Standard and optical coherence tomography (OCT). A detection power of 4 points in the 24-2 that coincided with 10-2 (Center4), 12 points that lie within 10° (24-2-12), and 22 points that lie within 10° of 24-2C (24-2C-22) were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves based on logistic regression analysis, using total deviation (TD) and pattern deviation (PD) probability plots. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the Center4, 24-2-12, and 24-2C-22 tests. RESULTS: In the upper-central visual field, AUCs of the TD plot were 0.50 (0.40-0.58) for the Center4, 0.75 (0.67-0.83) for 24-2-12, and 0.85 (0.78-0.91) for 24-2C-22, with 24-2C-22 AUC significantly exceeding 24-2-12 AUC. For the PD plot, AUCs were 0.53 (0.44-0.63), 0.81 (0.74-0.89), and 0.84 (0.77-0.90), respectively. In the lower-central visual field, using a total plot, AUCs were 0.27 (0.18-0.36), 0.57 (0.47-0.69), and 0.57 (0.46-0.68) for the Center4, 24-2-12, and 24-2C-22, respectively. Using the PD plot in the upper field, AUCs were 0.27 (0.19-0.36), 0.64 (0.53-0.75), and 0.81 (0.72-0.90), respectively, with the AUC of the 24-2C-22 significantly exceeding that of 24-2-12. The 24-2C test was significantly faster than both the 24-2 and 10-2 tests, reducing testing duration by 46% and 52%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The 24-2C SITA Faster test is highly effective and efficient for detecting mild-stage glaucoma with central visual-field defects. This, and its reduced duration, makes it a valuable tool in clinical settings.

Adherence to national guidelines for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in Japanese workplaces: a survey-based classification of enterprises' practices into "overscreening," "underscreening," and "guideline-adherence screening".

BACKGROUND: Workplace cancer screening programs are determined as part of an employee's benefits package and health checkups are perceived positively. However, the current status of workplace cancer screening programs in Japan is unavailable. This study aimed to assess the adherence to national guidelines for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in the workplace among Japanese enterprises and identify factors associated with excessive or inadequate screenings. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed. Data were obtained from a survey conducted by the "Corporate Action to Promote Cancer Control" between November and December 2022 among registered partner enterprises in Japan. The survey included questions on background characteristics, cancer screening practices, and intervention approaches. The analysis included 432 enterprises that provided complete responses regarding colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings. RESULTS: The guideline-adherence rates for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in the workplace were 12.7%, 3.0%, and 8.8%, respectively. Enterprises had lower adherence to screening guidelines than local governments. Colorectal (70.8%) and breast (67.1%) cancer screenings were predominantly categorized as "overscreening" and cervical (60.6%) cancer screening, as "underscreening." Factors such as enterprise scale, health insurance associations, and the number of interventional approaches were significantly associated with increased "overscreening" (101-1000: ß = 0.13, p = 0.01; ≥ 1000: ß = 0.17, p < 0.01; health insurance association: ß = 0.23, p < 0.01; and approaches: ß = 0.42, p < 0.01) and reduced "underscreening" (101-1000: ß = -0.13, p = 0.01; ≥ 1000: ß = -0.17, p < 0.01; health insurance association: ß = -0.18, p < 0.01; and approaches: ß = -0.48, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Adherence to national guidelines for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screenings in the workplace was suboptimal among Japanese enterprises. Therefore, appropriate cancer screening measures and interventions to ensure guideline adherence and optimization of screening benefits while minimizing potential harms should be expeditiously implemented.

Comparison of Glaucoma Detection Performance of Binocular Perimetry Screening Program Using imo Perimetry With Frequency Doubling Technology.

Purpose: We aimed to preliminarily compare the glaucoma detection accuracy of a head-mounted binocular visual perimeter "imo" screening program (ISP) with that of frequency doubling technology (FDT). Methods: This multicenter, diagnostic accuracy study based on prospectively collected data included 76 non-glaucoma (including pre-perimetric glaucoma) eyes and 92 glaucomatous eyes from patients visiting two hospitals. Patients underwent ISP and FDT (C-20-1 screening program) on the same day. Diagnostic efficacy was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and areas under the curve (AUCs). In addition, we compared the ISP and FDT testing times. Results: AUC values for ISP versus FDT were as follows: (1) mild-stage glaucoma (mean deviation [MD] > -6 dB), 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-0.88) versus 0.76 (95% CI, 0.68-0.83); moderate-stage glaucoma (-6 dB ≥ MD ≥ -12 dB), 0.98 (95% CI, 0.95-1.00) versus 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93-1.00); and advanced-stage glaucoma (-12 dB > MD), 1.00 (95% CI, 1.00-1.00) versus 0.99 (95% CI, 0.98-1.00). In addition, mild-stage glaucoma was classified into two stages (MD > -3 D) and (-3 D ≥ MD > -6 D). AUC values were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.73-0.88) versus 0.76 (95% CI, 0.68-0.84) for MD > -3 D and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.77-0.94) versus 0.73 (95% CI, 0.61-0.86) for -3 D ≥ MD > -6 D. The testing time for the ISP was significantly shorter than that of FDT for all glaucoma stages (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The ISP demonstrates non-inferiority in detecting glaucoma and has a shorter testing time compared with FDT. These findings provide evidence for applied further studies on large-scale population-based glaucoma screening. Translational Relevance: Our study provides a non-inferior and quicker glaucoma screening than existing tools.

Postoperative Visual Function of Extended Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lenses Versus Monofocal Lenses.

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and tilt, as well as age, on postoperative visual function (corrected distance visual acuity [CDVA] and contrast sensitivity) by comparing an extended depth-of-focus IOL using higher order aspheric optics against a monofocal IOL from the same platform. METHODS: This retrospective observational study targeted patients without other eye diseases who underwent surgery to implant the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue or the monofocal IOL Tecnis OptiBlue 1-Piece (J&J Vision) during cataract surgery from November 2021 to December 2022. The effects of age, axial length, IOL decentration, tilt, and corneal higher order aberrations (HOAs) on the postoperative 5 m CDVA and area under log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) under photopic and scotopic conditions were evaluated within 3 months of surgery. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in postoperative CDVA between the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue group (n = 61 eyes) and the Tecnis OptiBlue 1-Piece group (n = 35 eyes), but AULCSF was significantly better in the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue group for photopic (1.58 ± 0.13 vs 1.46 ± 0.18; P = .002) and scotopic (1.71 ± 0.11 vs 1.59 ± 0.19; P = .002) eyes. Multivariate analysis showed a negative correlation between AULCSF and IOL decentration and age in the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue group (P < .01), with no significant correlation with tilt, axial length, and corneal HOAs. CONCLUSIONS: The Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue yielded significantly better contrast sensitivity under photopic and scotopic conditions than the Tecnis OptiBlue 1-Piece. However, it is important to consider the effects of IOL decentration and age when evaluating the contrast sensitivity of the Tecnis Eyhance OptiBlue. [J Refract Surg. 2024;40(7):e499-e505.].

Comparative Evaluation of Fundus Image Interpretation Accuracy in Glaucoma Screening Among Different Physician Groups.

Purpose: To examine the variability in glaucoma screening using fundus images among physicians, including non-ophthalmologists. Patients and Methods: Sixty-nine eyes from 69 patients, including 25 eyes with glaucoma, were included from the Jikei University Hospital from July 2019 to December 2022. Fundus images were captured using TRC-NW8 (Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), and were interpreted by 10 non-ophthalmologists, 10 non-specialist ophthalmologists, and 9 specialists for diagnostic accuracy. We analyzed differences in diagnostic accuracy among the three groups. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and Kappa coefficient were compared, using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a post hoc Dunn's test. Results: The sensitivity and specificity were 0.22 and 0.92 for non-ophthalmologists, 0.49 and 0.83 for non-specialist ophthalmologists, and 0.68 and 0.87 for specialists, respectively. Both specialists and non-specialist ophthalmologists showed significantly higher sensitivity than non-ophthalmologists (Dunn's test, P<0.001 and P=0.031). There was no significant difference in specificity among the three groups (Kruskal-Wallis test, P=0.086). The PPV did not differ significantly between the groups (Kruskal-Wallis test, P=0.108), while the NPV was significantly higher in specialists compared to non-ophthalmologists (Dunn's test, P<0.001). Specialists also had a significantly higher Kappa coefficient than non-ophthalmologists and non-specialist ophthalmologists (Dunn's test, P<0.001 and P=0.024). Conclusion: Diagnostic accuracy varied significantly based on the physician's background.

Association Between Days of the Week and Intraocular Pressure: Japan Ningen Dock Study.

PRCIS: The analysis of intraocular pressure (IOP) by day of the week using the mega database showed a periodic weekly pattern with the highest value on Monday. PURPOSE: To evaluate IOP by the day of the week. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Annual health checkup examinees between April 2014 and March 2015 were cross-sectionally evaluated. As a result, 655,818 participants [51.5±10.5 (range: 20-96) years, 40.1% women] from 103 medical centers were included. IOP was measured using a noncontact tonometer. The mean IOPs of each day of the week were compared using multiple comparison test and multiple linear regression analysis. Wednesday was set as the reference. Moreover, weekly IOP variations stratified by sex and age were also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean IOPs from Monday to Sunday were 13.19±2.97, 13.06±2.92, 13.05±2.91, 13.05±2.92, 13.12±2.94, 13.10±2.96, and 13.16±2.78 mm Hg. IOP was significantly higher on Monday, Friday, and Saturday than those on Wednesday ( P <0.001, <0.001, 0.002). After adjusting for factors affecting IOP, the IOPs on Monday and Saturday were higher than those on Wednesday [ß=0.097 (95% CI: 0.074-0.121), P <0.001; ß=0.032 (95% CI: 0.005-0.059), P =0.019]. Men had significantly higher IOPs on Monday and Saturday than on Wednesday [ß=0.142 (95% CI: 0.110-0.173), P <0.001; ß=0.053 (95% CI: 0.017-0.089), P =0.004], whereas women did not have a significant trend. Participants aged below 65 years had higher IOPs on Monday ( P <0.001 in under 60 years; P =0.003 in 60-64 years), while those aged 65 years or older did not ( P =0.856). CONCLUSION: IOP values may have a periodic weekly pattern. The high IOP on Monday was more pronounced in men aged less than 65 years.

Associated factors of diabetic retinopathy by artificial intelligence evaluation of fundus images in Japan.

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the promoting and inhibitory factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) according to diabetes mellitus (DM) stage using standardized evaluation of fundus images by artificial intelligence (AI). A total of 30,167 participants underwent blood and fundus examinations at a health screening facility in Japan (2015-2016). Fundus photographs were screened by the AI software, RetCAD and DR scores (DRSs) were quantified. The presence of DR was determined by setting two cut-off values prioritizing sensitivity or specificity. DM was defined as four stages (no DM: DM0; advanced DM: DM3) based on treatment history and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Associated factors of DR were identified using logistic regression analysis. For cutoff values, multivariate analysis revealed age, sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP), smoking, urinary protein, and HbA1c level as positively associated with the risk of DR among all DM stages. In addition to glycemic control, SBP and Fibrosis-4 index might act as promoting factors for DR at all or an earlier DM stage. T-Bil, cholinesterase, and T-cho level might be protective factors at an advanced DM stage.

Association Between Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Glaucoma in Japan.

PRCIS: In this case-control study of the Japanese population, including 3207 glaucoma cases, alcohol consumption patterns such as frequency and quantity showed a positive association with glaucoma prevalence. PURPOSE: To examine the association between alcohol consumption patterns and glaucoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This case-control study evaluated 3207 cases with glaucoma and 3207 matched controls. Patients over 40 years of age were included from 1,693,611 patients admitted to 34 hospitals in Japan. Detailed alcohol consumption patterns (drinking frequency, average daily drinks, and total lifetime drinks) were obtained, as well as various confounding factors, including smoking history and lifestyle-related comorbidities. Conditional logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for glaucoma prevalence. RESULTS: Drinking frequency showed an association with glaucoma for "a few days/week" (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03-1.38) and "almost every day/week" (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18-1.66). Average daily drinks showed an association for ">0-2 drinks/day" (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32). Total lifetime drinks showed an association for ">60-90 drink-year" (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01-1.49) and ">90 drink-year" (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05-1.44). As alcohol consumption levels differed considerably between men and women, additional analyses were conducted separately for men and women. Among men, drinking frequency of "a few days/week" and "almost every day/week," average daily drinks of ">0-2 drinks/day" and ">2-4 drinks/day," and total lifetime drinks of ">60-90 drink-year" and ">90 drink-year" had an association with glaucoma. Conversely, among women, neither drinking frequency, average daily drinks, nor total lifetime drinks were associated. CONCLUSIONS: Both the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption were associated with glaucoma. Further research on gender differences is warranted.

Length of employment in workplaces handling hazardous chemicals and risk of cancer among Japanese men.

OBJECTIVES: In Japan, the risk of developing cancer among workers employed in workplaces where chemical substances are handled is unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between cancer risk and employment in workplaces handling hazardous chemicals. METHODS: The Inpatient Clinico-Occupational Survey of the Rosai Hospital Group data of 120 278 male patients with incident cancer and 217 605 hospital controls matched for 5-year age group, hospital (34 hospitals) and year of admission (2005-2019) were analysed. Cancer risk in relation to lifetime employment in workplaces using regulated chemicals was assessed while controlling for age, region and year of diagnosis, smoking, alcohol consumption and occupation. Further analysis stratified by smoking history was performed to examine interaction effects. RESULTS: In the longest group of employment in tertiles, ORs were increased for all cancers (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.19) and lung (OR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.56 to 2.13), oesophageal (OR=1.73; 95% CI: 1.18 to 2.55), pancreatic (OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.40 to 2.94) and bladder (OR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.74) cancers. Employment of 1+ years was associated with risk for lung cancer; 11+ years for pancreatic and bladder cancers; and 21+ years for all cancers and oesophageal cancer. These positive relationships were particularly obvious among patients with a history of smoking; however, no significant interaction between smoking and length of employment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high risk of cancer among workers, especially smokers, employed in workplaces handling regulated chemicals in Japan. Thus, future measures for chemical management in workplaces are needed to prevent avoidable cancers.

Lens thickness in atopic cataract: case-control study.

PURPOSE: To examine whether atopic cataracts are associated with thinner lenses. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Jikei University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. DESIGN: Retrospective matched case-control study. METHODS: 31 eyes with atopic cataracts, 62 with nonatopic cataracts, and 31 without cataracts were analyzed. Each group was matched for age (±4 years) and sex. RESULTS: The mean lens thickness (LT) was 3.76 ± 0.40 mm, 3.94 ± 0.49 mm, and 4.11 ± 0.40 mm in eyes with atopic cataracts, nonatopic cataracts, and normal lenses, respectively. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that the LT in the atopic cataract group was significantly thinner than that in the nonatopic cataract ( P = .036) and normal lens ( P < .001) groups. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, a thinner LT was negatively correlated with age (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86-0.96) and positively correlated with anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC) (OR, 5.61; 95% CI, 1.97-15.99). Atopy was not a significant factor. 24 (38.7%) of the 62 eyes with nonatopic cataracts and 24 (77.4%) of the 31 eyes with atopic cataracts had ASC. CONCLUSIONS: The lenses of eyes with atopic cataracts were thinner than those of controls. Atopic cataracts frequently present with anterior subcapsular opacity, which is associated with lens thinning.

Interactive assistance via eHealth for small- and medium-sized enterprises' employer and health care manager teams on tobacco control (eSMART-TC): protocol for a cluster randomized hybrid type II trial (N-EQUITY2101/J-SUPPORT2102).

BACKGROUND: Tobacco control should be a higher public health priority in Japan. Some workplaces provide smoking cessation support and connect employees to effective smoking cessation treatments such as outpatient clinics. However, tobacco control measures have not been sufficiently implemented in Japan, especially in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where resources are limited. Organizational commitment and consistent leadership are crucial to facilitate implementation, but research on whether supporting organizational leaders leads to health behavior changes among employees is limited. METHODS: This hybrid type II cluster randomized effectiveness implementation trial (eSMART-TC) aims to examine the effects of interactive assistance for SME management on health and implementation outcomes. We will provide interactive assistance to employers and health managers for 6 months, aiming to promote the utilization of reimbursed smoking cessation treatments by public health insurance and to implement smoke-free workplaces. The intervention will consist of three strategies: supporting employees through campaigns, tailored ongoing facilitation, and ensuring executive engagement and support. The primary health and implementation outcomes will be salivary cotinine-validated 7-day point-prevalence abstinence rate, and the adoption of two recommended measures (promoting utilization of smoking cessation treatment and implementing smoke-free workplaces) 6 months after the initial session, respectively. Other outcomes for implementation (e.g., penetration of smoking cessation clinic visits), health (e.g., salivary cotinine-validated 7-day point-prevalence abstinence rate at 12 months), and process (e.g., adherence and potential moderating factors) will be collected via questionnaires, interviews, logbooks, and interventionists' notes at 6 and 12 months. An economic analysis will be undertaken to assess the cost-effectiveness of the implementation interventions at 12 months. DISCUSSION: This will be the first cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an implementation intervention with interactive assistance for employers and health managers in SMEs on smoking cessation and implementation of evidence-based tobacco control measures in SMEs. The findings of this trial targeting management in SMEs have the potential to accelerate the implementation of evidence-based smoking cessation methods as well as abstinence rates among employees in SMEs across Japan. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol has been registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR; ID: UMIN000044526). Registered on 06/14/2021.

Basic assessment on adding platelet measurement to legal health checkup in Japan: A cross-sectional and 20-year longitudinal study.

Background: In Japan, health checkups for workers are legally compulsory. Considering legal health checkup items are important for Japanese workers' health problems. To date, the legal health checkup items for blood cell counts include only red blood cell counts and hemoglobin but not platelet counts. This study aimed to investigate the significance of measuring platelets in workers by showing the association between the FIB-4 index (FIB-4), which can be easily calculated from factors including platelet counts and viral hepatitis infection. Method: Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on the comprehensive medical examinations of male workers. In fiscal year (FY) 2019, a logistic regression model was applied to 12,918 examinees. For 13,459 examinees (mean age = 47.5 ± 9.3 SD), FY2000 was set to be followed until FY2019. A total of 149,956 records between FY2000 and FY2019 were analyzed cross-sectionally, and 8,038 men who were consecutively examined to FY2019 at the longest were analyzed longitudinally. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-area under the ROC curve (ROC-AUC) and Cox proportional methods were used to examine the association between platelet-related indices and viral hepatitis infection. Results: Logistic regression showed that the risk of FIB-4 ≥ 2.67 was mostly associated with hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAb) positivity [odds ratio (OR) = 2.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-5.86], while negatively associated with body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30-0.97), and not associated with the presence of fatty liver. To detect HVC Ab positivity, ROC-AUC showed more effectiveness in FIB-4 than in the AST/ALT ratio (0.776, 95% CI = 0.747-0.773 vs. 0.552; 95% CI = 0.543-0.561). The Cox analysis showed that the risk of FIB-4 ≥ 2.67 was closely associated with hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.0-4.6] and HCV Ab positivity (HR = 3.2, 95% CI = 2.0-5.0). Conclusion: Our results suggest that it might be worth considering that usage of information on platelets in legal health checkups could be some help not to overlook workers with hepatitis virus carriers as a complementary countermeasure, although further investigations are needed into its practical application.

[A report of five cancer screening rates and the related measures for cancer control in the workplace, surveyed by the Corporate Action to Promote Cancer Control].

OBJECTIVES: Most cancer control measures in the workplace have limited supporting evidence. This study aimed to identify highly effective cancer control measures, based on a survey by the Corporate Action to Promote Cancer Control. METHODS: The firms and organizations that responded to the web survey were included. The questionnaire comprised five cancer (stomach, lung, colorectal, breast, and cervical) screening rates and their countermeasures to promote cancer control. We conducted a non-hierarchical cluster analysis according to the degree of the measures and compared the screening rates among each group using an analysis of variance. Then, we performed two multiple regression analyses with the mean screening rates for stomach/lung/colorectal cancer and breast/cervical cancer as dependent variables, the implementation of each countermeasure as an independent variable, and the size and industry as control variables. RESULTS: We obtained responses from 704 firms and organizations. The three groups classified by cluster analysis were defined as active, moderate, and negative. For all cancer screenings, the main effects were significant, and multiple comparisons revealed that the difference between the active and negative groups (ts > 3.30, ps < .01, Hedges' ds > 0.73) and the moderate and negative groups (ts > 3.70, ps < .01, Hedges' ds > 0.88) were significant. For the four cancers other than lung, the difference between the active and moderate groups was not significant (ts < 0.21, ps < .84, Hedges' ds < 0.02), and for lung, the difference was significant, but the effect size was small. The multiple regression analyses revealed that "distribution of colorectal cancer test kits to all subjects" (ß = 0.14) was significant for stomach, lung, and colorectal cancer, while "financial supports for cancer screening" (ß = 0.24), "screening as part of employment" (ß = 0.18), and "careful screening of female subjects" (ß = 0.17) were significant for breast and cervical cancer, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We identified effective countermeasures for cancer control in the workplace, and these measures will help increase cancer screening rates.

Significance of Fib4 index as an indicator of alcoholic hepatotoxicity in health examinations among Japanese male workers: a cross-sectional and retrospectively longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Fib4 index (Fib4) is clinically used as a noninvasive marker of liver fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to preliminarily investigate whether Fib4 can be used to detect individuals who need assessment for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in the general population by clarifying the detailed association of Fib4 with alcohol consumption and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) among male workers. METHODS: We analyzed data sets on the comprehensive medical examinations of male workers as cross-sectional and retrospectively longitudinal studies. We enrolled 10 782 males (mean age: 52.2 ± 10.2 years) in FY2019 and 7845 males (mean follow-up: 12.6 ± 6.7 years) who could be consecutively followed up for 20 years from FY2000 to FY2019. Data were evaluated using logistic regression and COX proportional analysis. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional setting, the rate of Fib4 ≥ 2.67 in heavy drinkers (≥ 40 g of ethanol/day) was increased dose dependently in those over 65 years old, and that of body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 was increased in those over 60 years old, but not in those with fatty liver. The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for heavy drinking was 4.30 (95% CI = 1.90-9.72), and GGT ≥ 200 IU/L was considerably high (OR = 29.05 [95% CI = 17.03-49.56]). In the longitudinal setting, heavy drinkers and those with GGT ≥ 200 IU/L at 10 years after the baseline showed an increased risk for Fib4 ≥ 2.67 (hazard ratio = 2.17 [95% CI = 1.58-2.98] and 7.65 [95% CI 5.26-11.12], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The development of Fib4 ≥ 2.67 after 10 years was associated with heavy alcohol drinking and GGT level ≥ 200 IU/L. Therefore, Fib4 combined with GGT could indicate high risk of ALD. However, clinical examinations and course observations are essentially needed.

Occupational class and risk of hepatitis B and C viral infections: A case-control study-based data from a nationwide hospital group in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Occupational class, a proxy for socio-economic status, is a known factor for health disparities. However, no study has reported the association between occupational class and the risk of viral hepatitis B and C (HBV/HCV) infections. We investigated the effects of occupational class on the prevalence of HBV/HCV infections. METHODS: This is an unmatched hospital-based case-control study that included 12,101 patients who were diagnosed with HBV infection (ICD-10, B16.0, B16.1, B16.2, B16.9, B17.0, B18.0, B18.1) or HCV infection (ICD-10, B17.1, B18.2) and 698,168 controls (those with non-HBV/HCV-related diseases) aged ≥ 20 years who were initially hospitalized between 2005 and 2019. Patients were categorized according to occupational class (blue-collar, service, professional, and manager) and industrial sector (blue-collar, service, and white-collar). Managers in the blue-collar industry were set as the reference group, and the odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of HBV and HCV infections were calculated. RESULTS: Occupational class was significantly associated with only HCV infection risk. Professionals in all industrial sectors showed the lowest risk for HCV (OR (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) = 0.69 [0.58-0.82] in the blue-collar industry, 0.52 [0.38-0.73] in the service industry, and 0.60 [0.52-0.70] in the white-collar industry). Further, after adjusting for sex, age, and region of admitting hospital, all occupational classes in the white-collar industry showed lower risks of HCV than those in the other industries (ORs= 0.58 [0.47-0.71] in blue-collar workers, 0.74 [0.64-0.84] in service workers, 0.60 [0.52-0.70] in professionals, and 0.81 [0.64-1.02] in managers in white-collar industry). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational class was closely associated with HCV infection risk only. Considering that blue-collar workers in the white-collar industry also showed a low risk, adequate measures should be taken against hepatitis, possibly because of the screening tests and cure implemented in that population.

Alcohol use patterns and risk of incident cataract surgery: a large scale case-control study in Japan.

To examine the risk of incident cataract surgery associated with alcohol use patterns among Japanese adults. This was a case-control study evaluating 14,861 patients with incident cataract surgery and 14,861 matched controls. Subjects admitted to any of the 34 hospitals in Japan and aged between 40 and 69 years were included. Drinking patterns (drinking frequency, daily average drinks, and total amount of lifetime drinking), smoking history, lifestyle-related comorbidities, and occupational factors were surveyed by trained interviewers. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. For drinking frequency, ORs in the 1-3 days/week and 4-7 days/week groups were 1.10 (95% CI 1.03-1.17) and 1.30 (1.21-1.40), respectively. For average drinks, ORs in > 0-2 drinks/day, > 2-4 drinks/day, and > 4 drinks/day were 1.13 (1.06-1.20), 1.23 (1.12-1.35), and 1.16 (1.03-1.31), respectively. Both men and women had an increased risk of incident cataract surgery with increased total lifetime drinking, with a significant increase in risk occurring at > 90 drink-years for men and > 40 drink-years for women. A positive dose-response relationship was observed between alcohol consumption and cataract. Restricted drinking may help to reduce the progression of cataracts.

Health impacts with telework on workers: A scoping review before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Telework has dramatically increased due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and the health impacts related to telework have become major concerns. Some studies have shown that telework has both positive and negative impacts. However, during the pandemic, the influence of COVID-19 is too strong to estimate the health effects of telework. Therefore, this scoping review investigated a comprehensive overview of those impacts based on studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We searched keywords related to telework in five databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, and Ichu-Shi Web. We included articles written in English and Japanese and published from January 2009 to December 2020. One author extracted data, and four authors were paired into two groups. All authors independently conducted the first and second screening and checked the results in pairs. Any disagreements were resolved by reaching a consensus among all authors. All screening and strategies were performed with the consent of all authors. Results: Twenty-nine quantitative studies published in 12 countries were extracted. The outcomes included 10 studies on physical and lifestyle outcomes, 25 studies on stress and mental health outcomes, and 13 studies on quality-of-life and wellbeing outcomes. Telework increased sitting time in one study, and two studies showed improvement in behavior, such as reducing smoking or drinking due to telework. While six studies reported subjective stress levels improved by telework, the results for depression, anxiety, and other disorders varied across those studies, and the social or individual factors further complicated the situation. Conclusion: Telework is potentially associated with a shift to healthier lifestyles but also the potential for inverse correlation to extend sedentary time. Mental stress indicators depend on the social and individual situations, and very few intervention studies on teleworking existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our review identified a lack of intervention and comparative research on health problems with telework and revealed a need to conduct research with clear comparisons in post-COVID-19 studies. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021203104, identifier: CRD42021203104.